Africa Region lacks data for TB
prevalence - WHO
Accra, Sept. 10, Ghanadot/GNA - Lack of regional data
for Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence in Africa is hampering
the monitoring and evaluation of TB control programmes.
The anomaly is hampering health officials in efforts to
estimate the disease prevalence, unlike HIV, which has
regional records to facilitate planning to control the
spread of the pandemic.
Dr. Thomas Sukwa, World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa
Regional Director in-charge of Tuberculosis, made the
observation on Monday at the opening of a five-day
second planning meeting for National TB programme
Managers in the African Region.
He said though it was expensive to collect data for the
regional prevalence, it was very necessary for planning.
The meeting, which is being attended by 20 out of the 46
WHO countries, is expected to target and prioritize
actions required to accelerate progress towards regional
and global targets for TB control at various country
levels, prepare draft country specific plans and budgets
for 2007 to 2010, follow-up actions for short term,
medium to long term and develop a method of work to
achieve their target.
Dr. Sukwa explained that TB was a very serious disease,
which had a devastating effect on individuals and the
country as a whole, but despite the significant progress
by member states in the implementing of the Direct
Observed Therapy Short (DOTS) course, it remained the
most important communicable disease in the Region.
He noted that other challenges faced by the region to
control TB were low or non-participation of the private
sector, limited laboratory facilities for diagnosis,
human resource capacity, slow country TB/HIV
implementation and the expansion of community and civil
society Organizations involvement.
Outlining some strategic ways to address the challenges,
WHO African Regional Office suggested pragmatic actions
to accelerate population DOTS coverage to increase case
detection, reduce patient default to improve treatment
success rates and strengthening health systems for TB
laboratory networks as well as mobilizing additional
resources for TB.
Dr. Sukwa said WHO Africa Regional Office would ensure
the reduction of the gap created between policy and
implementation, advocate for correct approach to
programme implementation, undertake special studies on
TB prevalence and DOTS implementation and make available
simple treatment guidelines and charts.
These strategies would help to achieve the global target
of stopping TB by at least 70 per cent case detection
rate and 85 per cent treatment success rate among new
cases by 2015.
Dr. Elias Sory, Director-General of Ghana Health
Service, who opened the meeting, recommended community
participation in TB programmes which should be place on
national agenda.
He advised all countries to carry out follow-ups, fight
stigmatization and share success stories for higher
performance.
GNA
